In a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered by an unknown culprit.

Director:

Bong Joon Ho

Writers:

Bong Joon Ho, Kwang-rim Kim (play) | 1 more credit »
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992 ( 96)
Top Rated Movies #172 | 31 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kang-ho Song ... Detective Park Doo-man
Kim Sang-kyung ... Detective Seo Tae-yoon
Roe-ha Kim ... Detective Cho Yong-koo
Jae-ho Song ... Sergeant Shin Dong-chul
Byun Hee-Bong ... Sergeant Koo Hee-bong (as Hie-bong Byeon)
Seo-hie Ko ... Officer Kwon Kwi-ok
Tae-ho Ryu Tae-ho Ryu ... Jo Byeong-soon
No-shik Park ... Baek Gwang-ho
Park Hae-il ... Park Hyeon-gyu
Mi-seon Jeon ... Kwok Seol-yung
Young-hwa Seo ... Eon Deok-nyeo
Woo Go-na Woo Go-na ... Kim So-hyeon
Ok-joo Lee Ok-joo Lee ... Oh Nam-joo
Jong-ryol Choi Jong-ryol Choi ... Gwang-ho's father
Seung-mok Yoo Seung-mok Yoo ... Journalist
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Storyline

In 1986, in the province of Gyunggi, in South Korea, a second young and beautiful woman is found dead, raped and tied and gagged with her underwear. Detective Park Doo-Man and Detective Cho Yong-koo, two brutal and stupid local detectives without any technique, investigate the murder using brutality and torturing the suspects, without any practical result. The Detective Seo Tae-Yoon from Seoul comes to the country to help the investigations and is convinced that a serial-killer is killing the women. When a third woman is found dead in the same "modus-operandi", the detectives find leads of the assassin. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

1986 in a small town...for two detectives, everything was new. See more »


Certificate:

15 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When Kwang-Ho was investigated in the basement of the police station, the two police officers and a suspect watched a TV program while eating their meals. The title of this program is "Soo Sa Ban Jang" which can be loosely interpreted as "Investigation Squad" in English. It was a famous TV detective drama which was aired for almost twenty years. The opening music was also very popular during that time. See more »

Goofs

The letter from the FBI about the semen DNA testing is signed by director Clarence M. Kelly. Kelly was director from 1973-1978. William H. Webster was director in 1986. See more »

Quotes

Rape suspect: But... is wanking a crime?
See more »

Alternate Versions

The British DVD by Optimum Releasing has 5 minutes cut omitting the whole part of the film between the release of the last suspect and Detective Seo Tae-Yoon shadowing him. Therefore important scenes for the development of the story are missing, such as when the detectives are informed about the possibility of a DNA analysis of sperm found on one of the victim's clothes and that the sample has to be sent abroad because the required equipment is not in Korea. Also missing is the sequence where Detective Cho Yong-koo loses his leg and a scene with Kwok Seol-yung asking Detective Park Doo-Man to quit the police. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Connecting...: Day 226 (2020) See more »

User Reviews

 
Must See
10 December 2004 | by dbborroughsSee all my reviews

After two women are found dead in a rural community, a detective arrives from the big city to help out. Things quickly mushroom with the discovery of more bodies, more suspects and no end in sight.

Whether you like police films or not you should see this movie about the real hunt for Korea's first known serial killer simply because its a great movie. This is a movie that alters your expectations and changes your view of things. Its impossible to guess whats going to happen simply because the twists and turns are so unexpected. At times this is a funny funny movie, especially if you like shows like Law and Order or CSI since what we take for granted in those shows is stood on its head. At other times this is a very taut thriller and you become as desperate as the police in needing to put an end to the madness.

On top of all of this is a picture of Korea in 1986, a place with political unrest and civil defense drills that for me at least makes it seem like something out of the 1950's.

This is brilliant brilliant film-making.

I've given the film an 8 out of 10, even though it probably deserves to be higher, simply because some 12 hours after seeing the film, I'm still pondering what I thought of it, how good is it? At least an 8. I'm sure a second and third and fourth viewings will change my mind.

Yea its that good


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean | English

Release Date:

2 May 2003 (South Korea) See more »

Also Known As:

Memories of Murder See more »

Filming Locations:

South Korea

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Box Office

Budget:

$2,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,487, 17 July 2005

Gross USA:

$15,357

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,159,644
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| | (Filmfest Hamburg)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »

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